Luminaire device

Abstract

An optical device for collecting light and selectively outputting or concentrating the light. A layer has an optical index of refraction n1, and top, bottom and side surfaces defining an angel of inclination phi. A back surface spans the top, bottom and side surface. A first layer is coupled to the bottom surface of the layer and has an index of refraction n2. The first layer index n2 causes light input through the back surface of the layer to be preferentially output into the first layer. A second layer is coupled to the bottom of the first layer and selectively causes output of light into ambient. Additional layers, such as a light polarization layer, a polarization converting layer and a post LCD diffuser layer can be used to make preferential use of polarized light of diffuse light having passed through the LCD layer to enhance viewing of the output light.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An optical device for collecting light from a light source and outputting the light from the optical device, comprising: 
       a wedge-shaped layer of optical index of refraction n 1  with a first and second surface converging to define at least one angle of inclination, Φ, the light exiting said base layer when the light being reflected therein decreases its angle relative to the normal to at least one of said first and second surfaces and achieves an angle of incidence less than a critical angle θ c  relative to a normal to said surfaces; and  
       a first layer of index of refraction n 2  wherein said first layer is laminated to said wedge-shaped layer and has an optical index of refraction such that an effective optical dielectric interface is formed between said wedge layer and said laminated first layer and said interface has a higher critical angle θ c  than another critical angle θ a  characteristic of an ambient interface with said wedge-shaped layer to enable the light to enter said laminated first layer after output from said wedge-shaped layer when the light in said wedge-shaped layer achieves the angle of incidence less than the critical angle θ c  characteristic of the effective optical interface.  
     
     
       2. The optical device as defined in  claim 1  further including a second layer of optical index n 3  disposed adjacent to said laminated first layer for operating on the light before the light is output from the optical device. 
     
     
       3. The optical device as defined in  claim 2  wherein said second layer comprises a redirecting layer for acting on the light to change its direction of travel. 
     
     
       4. The optical device as defined in  claim 2  wherein said second layer includes means for preferably transmitting light of a first polarization state compared to a second polarization state and for preferably reflecting light of the second polarization state. 
     
     
       5. The optical device as defined in  claim 1  wherein said laminated first layer comprises a coated film and an adhesive layer. 
     
     
       6. The optical device as defined in  claim 1  wherein said laminated first layer comprises a laminated film material selected from the group consisting of an extruded film and a cast film. 
     
     
       7. An optical device for collecting light and for selectively outputting light, comprising: 
       a base layer for receiving light and having an optical index of refraction n 1  and said base layer further having upper and lower surfaces and the light exiting said base layer when the light achieves an angle of incidence to one of said upper and lower surfaces which is less than a critical angle θ c  relative to a normal at the point of incidence of the light on one of said surfaces;  
       a laminant layer coupled to said base layer and said laminant layer having an index of refraction n L ;  
       a first layer having an optical index of refraction n 2  and coupled by said laminant layer to said bottom surface of said base layer, said first layer and said base layer forming an effective optical interface with a higher critical angle θ c  than a critical angle θ a  at an interface between said wedge layer and ambient such that light is received by said first layer from said base layer upon achieving the critical angle θ c  of inclination in said base layer; and  
       a redirecting layer to output of the light into the ambient from said device.  
     
     
       8. The optical device as defined in  claim 7  further including a second layer of optical index n 3  disposed adjacent to at least one of said first layer and said laminant layer for operating on the light before the light is output from the optical device. 
     
     
       9. The optical device as defined in  claim 8  wherein said second layer comprises a section taken from a roll of film. 
     
     
       10. The optical device as defined in  claim 7  wherein said laminant layer includes a selected shape for interacting with the light to control light output from the optical device. 
     
     
       11. The optical device as defined in  claim 7  wherein said laminant layer comprises a polymeric material laminated to at least said first layer. 
     
     
       12. The optical device as defined in  claim 7  wherein said base layer is selected from the group of a layer having a variable index of refraction, a variable angle between said base layer upper and lower surfaces, and a roughed surface for at least one of said upper and lower surfaces. 
     
     
       13. An optical device for collecting light from a light source and outputting the light from the optical device, comprising: 
       a wedge-shaped layer of optical index of refraction n 1  with a first and second surface converging to define at least one angle of inclination, Φ, the light exiting said base layer when the light being reflected therein decreases its angle relative to the normal to at least one of said first and second surfaces and achieves an angle of incidence less than a critical angle θ c  relative to a normal to said surfaces;  
       a laminated film layer coupled to said wedge-shaped layer, the film layer having an index of refraction n L  and a shape for collectively assisting in controlling light to be output from the optical device; and  
       a laminant first layer of index of refraction n 2  relative to the laminated film layer having the index n L  and at least one of said laminant first layer and said film layer having an optical index of refraction such that an effective optical dielectric interface is formed between said wedge layer and said laminant first layer and said interface has a higher critical angle θ c  than another critical angle θ a  at an ambient interface with said wedge-shaped layer to enable the light to enter at least one of said laminant first layer and said film layer after output from said wedge-shaped layer when the light in said wedge-shaped layer achieves the angle of incidence less than the critical angle θ c  characteristic of the effective optical interface.  
     
     
       14. The optical device as defined in  claim 13  further including a second layer of optical index n 3  disposed adjacent to one of said laminant first layer and said laminated film layer for operating on the light before the light is output from the optical device. 
     
     
       15. The optical device as defined in  claim 14  wherein said second layer comprises a redirecting layer for acting on the light to change its direction of travel. 
     
     
       16. The optical device as defined in  claim 14  wherein said second layer includes means for preferably transmitting light of a first polarization state compared to a second polarization state and for preferably reflecting light of the second polarization state. 
     
     
       17. The optical device as defined in  claim 13  wherein said laminated film layer comprises a coated film and an adhesive layer. 
     
     
       18. The optical device as defined in  claim 13  wherein said film of said roll comprises a faceted film. 
     
     
       19. The optical device as defined in  claim 13  wherein a coated film layer is coupled to said wedge-shaped layer using an adhesive layer. 
     
     
       20. The optical device as defined in  claim 13  wherein said laminant first layer comprises a laminated film material selected from the group consisting of an extruded film and a cast film.